Proxima
(one of ... ? )
by Stephen Baxter
science fiction
copyright 2013
read in April 2015
rated 6/10: read to pass the time
From the front cover blurb, "Baxter proves himself a master of the epic canvas." Pity he hasn't mastered the engrossing story.
In an infinite universe, anything that is possible is probable. Textbooks have been written to discuss what may be possible beyond the limitations of our one well known planet. Baxter has written a textbook, added a few stock characters and plodded manfully through a whole list of possibilities.
Interesting but not engrossing.
This book is also realistic enough to be depressing. Kitchen sink near-drama, set around an alien sink. Politics with a message: we're all doomed by our politicking. Self interest above all.
The science is interesting -- in its plodding, textbook fashion. Characters stop what they are doing in order to explain the science behind whatever they see. And whatever they see, often adds nothing relevant to the story. It's just textbook filler.
Then there's The Hatch... No, nothing to do with any TV series. Just a magic portal to save the cost of a spaceship. (What ? A spoiler ? But I thought it was obvious, as soon as the first hatch was uncovered ! ) There's no explanation of The Hatch, though it may be related to the mysterious End Time Sleeper. Which does nothing more than twitch in its sleep. With no actual explanation.
So, having messed up Earth and messed up the new planet, what happens next ? No exciting plot resolution, that's for sure... A couple of characters simply take a magic portal ride to yet another planet. Where all they can say is, well, we failed to finish that story -- so let's get ready for another...
If you like your science dressed up as fiction -- this book does it quite well. If you would also like a strong story, interesting characters, some form of end-of-story resolution -- forget it.
So much irrelevant science... So many unresolved loose ends... So little conclusion, satisfying or otherwise...
It's not a bad book. But it barely scrapes by the definition of "a novel".
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